Nederland: Harvey effects loomed over city

Published 10:08 pm Thursday, December 27, 2018

Staff Report

In the year following Hurricane and Tropical Storm Harvey, the city of Nederland saw many changes from the Nederland Avenue project to economic development across the city.

“2018 was a busy year for the city,” City Manager Chris Duque said. “The city started the year as we ended 2017 — dealing with the effects of Tropical Storm Harvey, specifically reconstruction debris. The city moved forward with a number of long-planned projects; the first was the much-need Nederland Avenue Paving, Drainage, and Utilities project that commenced in May and is scheduled to be completed in early January 2019; and the second was the Main Sewer Line project, which will commence in the second quarter of 2019 and take a year to complete.”

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Duque sent a 2017-2018 review of the fiscal year, from which The Port Arthur News selected some highlights.

• In order to pay the Nederland Avenue project debt, the tax rate was adjusted to $0.609578, which remained one of the lowest municipal tax rates in Jefferson County; continued to provide $15,000 Homestead Tax Exemptions for the elderly and the disabled.

• Commenced the Nederland Avenue Paving, Drainage, and Utility Improvements project at a cost of $5,097,961; following two public forums to discuss the two proposed approaches to the project, the City Council unanimously elected to pursue the narrowed scope project (the hot mix overlay and drainage improvements requiring four to six months to complete).

• Submitted Hazard Mitigation Grant Program applications to FEMA (generators at four lift stations that lack a generator, new roof and generator at the Hughes Library, generator and storm shutters at the Recreation Center, and drainage improvements along South 35th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B).

• Completed the re-roofing of the Nederland Swimming Pool, added covering to the pool motor equipment, and completed the pool overhang repair ($36,300).

• Continued to fund spay & neutering program of Nederland residents’ pets in an effort to control the pet population and commenced a feline population control program.

• Received $140,624 in grant funding and donations: $24,678, Interoperable Communications Sustainability Program — U.S. Department of Homeland Security (police), $20,982 — Interoperable Communications Sustainability Program — U.S. Department of Homeland Security (police), $2,134 — Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education Funds (police), $2,000 — Koch Cos. (fire), $15,755 — Meadows Foundation Grant (fire), $2,000 — Entergy (parks & recreation), $36,000 — Wilton and Effie Mae Hebert Foundation (library); received donations of $5,000 from Shell Pipeline, $20,870 from the Nederland Heritage Foundation (police, fire, parks & recreation, and animal control), $2,805 from the Texas Forest Service (fire), and $8,400 from Sunoco (fire) .

• Completed phase 3 of the Nederland Veterans Park project — installation of an electronic kiosk at the park to display the Veterans’ Database information.  The Marion & Ed Hughes Library continues to develop the veterans’ database; forms to participate are available on the library’s website and available at the library.

• Approved the Preliminary Plat of  “The Landing” subdivision (airport development) and the Final Plat of “Laura Place,” a private duplex subdivision.”

• Appointed Gary Porter as police chief following the retirement of Darrell Bush and promoted Andy Arnold to assistant police chief.

• Issued $10 million in certificates of obligation for a main sewer line repair/improvements project.

• Continued water and sewer line improvements in order to upgrade the city’s utility infrastructure.

• Improved workplace safety and reduce the number of injury claims.

• Continued the strong relationship with the Nederland Economic Development Corp. and Chamber of Commerce in order to promote commerce and industrial growth.

• Continuation of residential and commercial growth in our city that will impact economic growth and opportunities for our citizenry.

• Continued to assess each city department’s delivery of services to ensure the maximum efficiency and effectiveness of tax dollars to provide a better municipal government.

FISCAL YEAR
2018-2019 GOALS

• Maintain one of the lowest municipal tax rates in Jefferson County ($0.609578 per $100 assessed taxable value); continue to provide $15,000 Homestead Tax Exemptions for the elderly and the disabled.

• Complete the Nederland Avenue Paving, Drainage and Utility Improvements project ($5,097,961).

• Continuation of street improvements to improve the transportation network — $1,295,000.

• Commence Main Sewer Line Repair/Improvements project.

• Adjust city utility rates to fund the Main Sewer Line Repair/Improvements project costs and to ensure the long-term fiscal stability of water/wastewater services.

• Complete a waterline replacement project and other capital improvements to the Water System.

• Complete the Doornbos Park Electrical Loop Repairs/Improvements project.

• Continue to fund spay & neutering program of Nederland residents’ pets in an effort to control the pet population and a feline population control program.

• Host public forums with city leadership to discuss various issues with the public and hold an online town hall meeting as part of a citizen engagement/outreach effort.

• Continue to provide community events including “Trash Bash,” Nederland Family Nights at the Pool, Monsters in the Park, holiday decorating, Christmas on the Avenue, National Night Out, Veterans’ Day, Memorial Day, and the 4th of July Fireworks Extravaganza.

“As we look toward tomorrow, we must discover ways to focus on creating a future that will be more prosperous for Nederland,” Duque said. “Years of investment — public and private, monetary and non-monetary, emotional and unemotional — have shaped our community and made Nederland a place one can be proud to live, visit, or do business in. It should be our goal to honor the history of our community and those investments made as we make the best Nederland possible.”